College academic all-star runners up include Rhodes Scholar, volunteers, inventors
USA Today – June 9
Meet the undergraduates named to the second, third and honorable mention teams in USA TODAY’s annual college academic competition…
SECOND TEAM
• Alan Blinder, University of Alabama; home: Norcross, Ga.; majors: journalism, political science. Founded Pediatric Stroke Initiative to foster education and research.
•Patrick Johnson, University of Alabama; home: Cullman, Ala.; major: biology. Is helping design a program to help pre-med students get clinical experience by job shadowing, working at a local diabetes clinic and studying abroad.
•Kendra Key, University of Alabama; home: Tuscaloosa, Ala.; major: political science. Spearheaded campaign to create professional standards for commercial tax preparation industry, featured in Business Week and reviewed by the IRS.
•Dana Lewis, University of Alabama; home: Huntsville, Ala.; majors: public relations, political science. Was youth ambassador for the International Diabetes Foundation; developed a class to help first-year students with diabetes transition to living independently.
THE THIRD TEAM
•Richard Cockrum, University of Alabama; home: Northport, Ala.; major: biochemistry. Used computational chemistry to predict decomposition of chemical weapons.
•Susan DeLeon, University of Alabama; home: San Antonio; major: biological sciences. Studied implications for Parkinson’s disease of a gene that protects neurons.
•Joy Driver, University of Alabama; home: Clanton, Ala.; major: chemical and biological engineering. Helped develop an instrument that accurately measures aerosols.
•Amy Frees, University of Alabama; home: Huntsville, Ala.; major: chemical engineering. Researched a new cancer therapy via a gel.
HONORABLE MENTION
•Kalen Berry, University of Alabama
•Rebecca Long, University of Alabama
UA biologists to study Gulf oil spill
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – June 8
Two University of Alabama biologists are now working to help control the gulf oil crisis. They received a National Science Foundation rapid response research grant. For the next year, they will work towards finding a way to clean up the oil. Doctor Behzad says they are taking naturally occuring marine substrates, like the organic matter in fish or marsh vegetation, and testing how it can help breakdown the chemicals in the oil.
University of Alabama, University of Alabama in Huntsville have concrete plans for canoe
Birmingham News – June 9
Engineering students from two Alabama colleges will try to float their boats later this month at the national collegiate concrete canoe championship. Students from the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama in Huntsville will join students from 20 other universities in San Luis Obispo, Calif., June 17-19 to see which school is best at making and racing a concrete canoe…
Advocates offer alternative view on tobacco control
Associated Press — June 9
…”The shadow scientific panel on tobacco represents the loyal opposition,” said Dr. Alan Blum, director of the University of Alabama Center for the Study of Tobacco and Society and co-chairman of the group of 10 advocates. ”The loophole-laden FDA bill, its championing by top tobacco manufacturer Philip Morris, the presence of cigarette company representatives on the panel, the initial direction of the new FDA office on tobacco and the dominant role played by the professional FDA bureaucracy warrants an alternative, uncensored viewpoint,” Blum said…
Boys State students enjoy hoops after hard work
Tuscaloosa News – June 5
…The annual program, hosted by the University of Alabama, is designed to train young men in American government. The students, who were selected based on their work ethic, leadership and community involvement, partnered with the UA Community Service Center, the city of Tuscaloosa and Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority to take part in beautification projects at Alberta, Martin Luther King Jr., Northington and Skyland elementary schools… “This dynamic project demonstrates what is best about Tuscaloosa,” Mayor Walt Maddox said. “By bringing together the city of Tuscaloosa, UA, PARA, Tuscaloosa City Schools and Alabama Boys State, we are going to make a difference for the people of Tuscaloosa.”…The students participated in a mock government and met with leaders, including Maddox, UA President Robert E. Witt and Crimson Tide football coach Nick Saban…